Editor, Gazette-Journal:

Mathews High School’s robotics team, Rocket Sauce, qualified to go to the FIRST Robotics Competition World Championship in St. Louis, Missouri.

We were faced with the possibility being unable to attend because we had not planned for the extra cost in our annual budget. Mentors and parents began devising ways to get us to St. Louis and back.

We appealed to our faithful supporters and friends, the money began to trickle in; we needed about $10,000 in April to make the trip possible.

Thanks to the Mathews Community Foundation and some other very generous supporters, in four weeks we raised over $12,000.

This past Saturday we had a bake sale in the Mathews Farmers’ Market and thanks to cookie sales and donations we raised another $1,100.

The team is provided a meeting place and local transportation by the school system, but we receive no financial support.

Larry Brown, coach

Team Rocket Sauce

Bavon, Va. ...